22 Sep Facial Structure Linked To Sexual Drive and Orientation

MedicalResearch.com Interview with:

Dr. Arnocky

Steven Arnocky PhD
Faculty of Arts & Science-Psychology
Nipissing University
Canada 

MedicalResearch.com: What is the background for this study? What are the main findings?

Response:  – Previous research has linked the facial width-to-height ratio to a number of testosterone-mediated traits, primarily in men, such as aggression and achievement drive. Some research has also linked FWHR to testosterone directly, although this research is less consistent. If testosterone is linked to cranio-facial development then we hypothesized that facial masculinization should therefore correlate with other testosterone-linked traits. In both men and women, there is good evidence that testosterone increases sexual motivation.

In two samples of young-adults from two Canadian cities, we found that  facial width-to-height ratio predicted sex-drive, regardless of whether participants were male or female.

In the second study (the larger of the two) we also found that FWHR predicted a more unrestricted sociosexual orientation, in other words, attitudes and behavior consistent with more pluralistic mating, as well as more intended infidelity.

MedicalResearch.com: What should clinicians and patients take away from your report?

Response: These findings extend the field’s understanding of  facial width-to-height ratio as a morphological index of psychology and behavior in men and women

MedicalResearch.com: What recommendations do you have for future research as a result of this study?

Response: Both of our samples consisted primarily of Caucasian Canadian men and women. We know that both facial width-to-height ratio as well as social values surrounding sexuality vary across cultures, so it will be important to explore whether these findings replicate across-cultures, and whether they vary in important ways.

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Citation:

Steven Arnocky, Justin M. Carré, Brian M. Bird, Benjamin J. P. Moreau, Tracy Vaillancourt, Triana Ortiz, Nicole Marley. The Facial Width-to-Height Ratio Predicts Sex Drive, Sociosexuality, and Intended Infidelity. Archives of Sexual Behavior, 2017; DOI: 1007/s10508-017-1070-x

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Last Updated on September 22, 2017 by Marie Benz MD FAAD